It’s award season in Hollywood. I’m a fan of watching all the stars in their glitz and glamour and enjoy watching the award shows. Especially if they are previously recorded on the DVR and I can fast forward through whatever I want to! Sometimes its my only way of keeping up with trends, fashion, hair etc. Although it does make my husband and I feel old at times. Anyways, award season got me to thinking, when is Mommy award season? I mean, I know Mother’s Day comes around once a year in May, but it seems like it should be more than that. So since I can’t award every mom in the world, (I so wish I could!) I’ve decided to start hearing people out on what some of the best Mommy gear, tools, gifts, etc. are worthy of an award. In case you were wondering, my awards are a beautiful minivan made of Swarovski crystal. Not really. But maybe someday.

So the first category up for discussion and voting is: Best Rookie Mom Gift

I’ll go first with my nomination. When giving a gift to a rookie mom, i like to think of things that she will use after the 3 month mark. Practical things that she may not know she’s going to need or appreciate. So my vote goes to the Squirt. It’s amazing and an unbelievable handy tool to have with a baby. Awesome for on the go! Easy to use. Easy to clean up.Check it out if you’ve never heard of it.

Ready, Set, Vote! What one gift would you give to a rookie mom?

Here we are with 10 days left before Christmas and you’re wondering, just what is it that Mom wants. Husbands, take note of the list below in order to earn bonus points with your wife! Whether you’re a techy loving mom or a lover of some simple pampering, I think the list below is full of sure WINS for any mom out there this year. Not to mention, some great gift ideas for others too! Feel free to leave a comment with any other gifts you’re hoping to find under the tree this year. You can even forward the link to this post for your kids, hubby  or other friends and family to see what you’re really hoping for. : ) Merry Christmas to you and yours!

1. iPad - Do I need to even write a description about this wonderful invention? Bottom Line. Anyone who receives this will NOT be disappointed. Never thought a geeky toy would make me swoon so much as this does! Check out the facts on this beautiful creation, here. My husband has brought home his work one a few times and we’ve enjoyed it greatly! Your kids will also love playing with it!  : ) If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone already, this little baby is somehow different and equally as worthy of owning. Check out these great charging docks for both an iPad and your iPhone or iPod Touch here. Never thought a geeky toy would make me swoon so much as this does!

2. Remote Car Starter – This was given to me for christmas about 3 years ago. It’s amazing! You add it to your key chain and when you’d like to start up your car to get it warm or cool it off  and have it ready for you, just a push of a button and you get just that. It’s been a life saver with kids! From inside my home I can start my van to get it warming up before i put the kids in the car. It has a safety auto shut off. What this means is if anyone touches any of the pedals or tries to put the car in gear, it automatically shuts the car off. It will also time out and turn off the car after 10 minutes of running. Seriously, a great gift!

3. Etsy – You will get lost in this site if you’re not focused on what you’re looking for. It’s amazing! This site has thousands of hand made things, vintage things and supplies. It might sound cheesy to a man, but its simply thousands of hand made works of art. From jewelry, to hand bags, to kids clothes, to womens clothes,to pillows, to ipad sleeves to just about anything you can think of! Its also a great place to start up your own little store and sell something you make handmade.  Any woman would be in love with anything from this site and of course, even a gift card.

4. Geeky Gifts:

Twournal Twitter Journal- Make a professionally bound book of all of your tweets over the last year. You’ll find out just how funny you really are and so will others that pick up this great read!

Sony Bloggie Touch HD Camera- Just pull the Bloggie Touch camera out of your pocket and you’re ready to capture Full HD video and 12.8-megapixel still shots at a moment’s notice. This sleek little camera will help you easily upload your movies to your favorite social networking sites like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

iPom – Cute! Cute!… and Cute! This is a fun one. These speakers get great reviews and are sure to bring on a rockin’ good time! It even has a subwoofer built into this tiny lil plant/flower pot. Great for the Blogging Moms office or for in the kitchen when cooking or cleaning.

5. E-Mealz – This is a great site! I gave this as a christmas gift to my newly married sister last Christmas and she still to this day tells me how much she’s loved this site. E-mealz will simplify your life, save time and money! A membership gets you a weekly grocery list along with the recipes for the meals. It greatly helped with our budget and just simplified life more. A win to all moms! Check out the site for further details.

6. Lisa Leonard Online or 31Bits: For the lady in your life that loves jewelry. You cannot go wrong with jewelry! Lisa Leonard has some beautiful pieces that you can add your own special touch to. The personalized ones are my favorite. Just feels like more thought went into a gift. A few of my family members will be receiving gifts from 31Bits this year. Sorry for the early notice Fam, but you’ll simply melt when you see what you get. 31Bits is a business that uses fashion and design to help women rise above poverty. Amazing stuff! Go read the bios on the women who made the jewelry and it will be enough for you to purchase their great pieces of art. When you purchase a piece it comes in a great hand made cloth bag and a tag attached with the name of the woman that made your piece you purchased. So amazing! Love gifts that give back! Warning: Chills will occur.

7. Spa anything! – Every woman loves to be pampered and with a gift card to a spa or salon, she will have to treat herself to some well deserved “Me” time. Groupon has some great deals for spa and salon services that are from reputable businesses. Check your local area on Groupon. Men, you can also ask any woman for a good recommendation to a nail salon or spa for your lady.

8. A Goat! – Yes, I said a Goat! I asked for it this year and I know that many other moms would love this gift too. Don’t worry, this isn’t another thing your wife will have to be cleaning up after. Its one of those give back gifts that is sure to make her heart full of gratitude and compassion. A gift that will help many. Check out the link for more details and no, you will not have to figure out how to wrap the goat.

9. Gift Cards She’ll Love: Can’t mess up with any of these either!

Sephora- Makeup and fun all in one store! Another way for her to pamper herself

Amazon- Just about anything can be found here! I mean, anything!

Ebay- For those bargain lovers and deal seekers. Great stuff! Again, a site that has just about everything.

Piperlime- Every “cool” shoe you’d ever hope for and much more on one site. Also, this gift card would give them the option to shop OldNavy, Gap and Banana Republic and their sporty store Athleta. Let her shop to her hearts content and buy what she wants or needs.

Starbucks- What Mom doesn’t need caffeine?! Its a fun treat when being on the go or out and about. Plus, there’s one on every corner just about and in every state!

10. You! – Less is more. Giving the gift of your time and your presence goes far! Check out this site for some great encouragement on this topic. Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.

If you enjoyed reading this list of gifts for Mom, then you might also want to check out my list of my favorite Gifts that Give Back.

Yesterday afternoon, I sat down to do a blog post and my 4 year old son interrupted me. I decided to interview him and let him remind us what its all about. Christmas, that is. Not the Hokey Pokey.The next 2 weeks is when people can get caught up in the hustle and bustle, christmas parties, kids concerts, shopping, food and the to do lists. Please don’t forget that none of that other stuff would be possible if a Savior, Jesus, had never been born. Celebrate Him! Celebrate Him with your kids! Who doesn’t love a great birthday party and a birthday party non the less where the person being celebrated is SO great that we give gifts to the ones He’s blessed us with. Merry Christmas!

The following article is from one of my favorite authors and leaders, Reggie Joiner. He is a co-writer of the book, “Parenting Beyond Your Capacity.” The link below came from his blog www.orangeparents.org. It is always great hearing from someone who has been through it all and hearing what they think looking back on it and what they would change or keep the same.  I don’t think as parents, we can ever have too much help in the department of becoming better parents. If you are a parent, this is a great read and perhaps something we should all visit every couple of months. My husband and I printed his list off and have it hanging on the side of our fridge. Yes, its that helpful! Enjoy!

You are a mom for a lifetime. Worth every penny, right?! Lots of pennies, in fact!

The USDA says the average American family will spend $221,190 to raise a child from birth to age 17, based on 2008 data. That’s a huge number! It means Americans will spend nearly a quarter of a million dollars per child. Insane, right?! Did you pass out already after reading that? I almost did! Stick with me here.

So here you are trying to figure out if you have what it takes to be the mother your child needs, the mom God intended you to be. What do you get for all the diaper changing, sleep deprivation, headaches and worries?

For starters, you get glimpses of God every morning, and giggles at bedtime ever night. You get more love than your heart can hold, sticky kisses, and arms that fit perfectly around your neck. You get a hand to hold and someone to remind you that clouds are really cool things, weeds make great flower bouquets and digging in dirt is more fun than any toy. You get to blow bubbles, fly kites, build sand castles and get excited when it rains.

Every Fall you get to rake all the leaves into a big pile and jump in. You get to collect acorns and art projects with leaves. Every Winter you are reminded that Christmas morning is the best and that hills were meant for sledding and snow was meant to be piled into a snowman and eaten fresh off the ground.

You get a front row seat to history. First step, first word, first day of school, first time driving, first job, first dance.

You have the power to make just about anything all better in their eyes. You are loved greatly with out judgment. You have the single most important job in your kids lives. You get to introduce them to a loving heavenly Father that is just crazy about them!

No one has more potential to influence your child than you. My favorite author of my favorite parenting book (Parenting Beyond Your Capacity), Reggie Joiner says it like this, “We need to remember that our influence has more to do with our relationships with our kids than it does with our skills as parents.”

As moms, we can be torn in so many directions. More lists, more organization, more groups, more blogging, more shopping, more demands at work, more driving. But let us not forget that our kids want US. They want an authentic relationship with you. It doesn’t have to be perfect or expensive!

What things are you doing today to give your kids YOU?